Tnt-based sulfonated polynaphthylimides useful as proton exchange membranes for fuel cells (pemfcs)

Abstract

Abstr act. PEMFC Fuel Cell uses a polymer membrane as an electrolyte. It is used in all applications with dynamic loads, especially in mobile applications but also as combined heat and power units in households. The development of the membranes ion-conductivity has much increased over the last 30 years. Today "Nafion"-based membranes achieve a power density up to 1 W/cm 2 active area. In the last 10 years the successful adoption of the PEMFC in different prototypes could be demonstrated. For a market-introduction a few "teething problem" like lifetime and costs have to be solved. In this context scientists have high expectations in the development of high-temperature membranes. Cells with these temperatures can be operated over 373 K. Regarding our investigations on the synthesis of aromatic condensation monomers and polymers based on 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) we have developed new sidechain-sulfonated aromatic diamines (SCSADAs) and polymers there from. Generally these diamines are prepared using multistep synthetic procedures; as a result they are expensive and unavailable. Our approach shows that the acidic groups on the pendant phenyl groups are more stable to hydrolysis than those with acidic groups directly attached to the main chains. Acidified polymers are stable up to 423 K.